Gabby Espinas of Alaska (dark) vs Greg Slaughter and Jay-r Reyes of Ginebra (light). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Alaska took advantage of an import-less Barangay Ginebra San Miguel for the majority of the game to win, 92-81, and book a semifinals matchup with Rain or Shine in the 2014 PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Aces capitalized on the ouster of Kings import Zaccheus Mason, who hurt his right knee at the 10:53 mark of the second quarter, as they turned the game around from there.
“The big story of the game was their import went down. Unfortunately for Ginebra, Mason got injured but they still played hard. They played without the import for 33 minutes,” said Alaska head coach Alex Compton, who steered the Aces to the semifinals in just his first crack year as chief tactician. “Our guys ended up making plays in the end.”
The Aces fell behind by 12 in the first quarter before taking a 16-point lead, 54-38, after an uncontested dunk by Gabby Espinas midway through the third period.
The Kings moved to within four, 77-81, after two free throws by Japeth Aguilar with 3:36 remaining before the Aces pushed their advantage back to double-digits, 87-77, thanks to two straight triples by JVee Casio with the shot clock winding down and Dondon Hontiveros, who got free after Chris Ellis doubled on Espinas at the post near the two-minute warning.
Alaska had eight players with at least seven points led by Casio’s 15. Espinas, Hontiveros, Calvin Abueva and Vic Manuel had 12 points each.
Sonny Thoss played through five fouls in the fourth quarter and posted 11 points and six rebounds. Import Henry Walker and RJ Jazul tallied seven apiece. Walker couldn’t get it going at the offensive end as he went just two-of-16 from the field but he did have 10 rebounds and six assists.
Aguilar paced the Kings, who had more turnovers (16) than assists (13), with 18 points while Greg Slaughter notched 16 points and 16 rebounds.
The Aces meet the Elasto Painters, the team who handed them a 51-point beating – their worst loss of the franchise, on Friday for Game 1 of their best-of-three semifinals.
“Hopefully they’ll have some mercy on us,” Compton said with a laugh. “It will be great challenge. They’re playing the best basketball right now.”
Alaska has now won four straight games since absorbing that beatdown while Rain or Shine started its winning streak which hit six earlier that night.
“That loss woke up the competitive spirits of the guys,” Compton said.
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